The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-18
THE BALD KNOB GANG.
Belief that Missouri's Band of Organized Mur-
derers Is in Fair Way To BE Broken Up.

ST.. LOUIS March 17.-Dispatches from Ozark,
Mo-. say that eleven more members of the Bald
Knobbers' organization were arrested and
brought there yesterday making nineteen in all
now under arrest and confined there. These
prisoners are believed to include the leading
spirits Of the gang, and also a majority of the
masked band concerned in the murder of Will
lam Eden and Charles Green. last Friday night
Dave Walker, the leader, or commander-in-
chief, as he is called, of the Bald Knobbers,
married man and member of the Baptist Church,
is among those arrested. as also are c. O. Sim
mons, Baptist preacher; Joseph Hyde and
William Abbot, members of the Baptist Church.
The other prisoners are generally farmers, and
most of them married, ranging in age from nine
teen to fifty-four years. Joseph Inman, one of
the arrested, made a confession yesterday after
noon, giving much information to the authori
ties regarding the organization, and telling how
the killing of Green and Eden came about. He
said that last Friday night some thirty or
forty members of the Bald Knob company, to
which he belonged. were called together by
David Walker, it's chief, to go down to Swan
creek and pour ont some Illicit whisky which
was being sold by Bucky Bill Roberts Some of
the gang were mounted and foot, and
as the road was bad and the distance four miles,
Chief Walker told the unmounted men that they
could go home, and that he and those who had
horses would look after the Roberts matter
When the party got Edens house
some OF the young men proposed to go there and
''have some fuE." and started for the house.
headed by William Walker son of Chief Walker
The latter called them back and tried to persuade
them not to go, but they gave no heed to either
advice or commands, and went to Eden's house,
where they smashed in the doors and windows
and killed young Eden and Green. Wm Walker
was shot in the assault the house, and left
mis- shotgun and mask in Eden's yard. He was
carried home by his father, and is now believed
to be concealed in the woods. He is said to be
| seriously, if not fatally wounded having re-
ceived ball in the groin. supposed to have been
| fired by the elder Eden wnen his doors were
| broken down. Inman did not go to the Eden
house. and did not know that anybody had been
killed, but heard the firing and thought some of
| the family had been hurt. AS as this con-
| fesson was made Sheriff johnson handcuffed
who were greatly overcome when they heard
| Inman had confessed. Preacher Simmons was
one of those who attacked Eden's house. A
strong guard has been placed over the prisoners,
| as it is apprehended the Bald Knobbers will at
| tempt to rescue tbem Inman has been sent to
| the Springfield Jail at his urgent request,
| he being in mortal terror Of being lynched. He
| says he Joined the organization under protest,
! being forced at the muZzle of shotgun, with a
rope round his neck, to swear allegiance to the
| deadly fraternity. He has had sympathy
| with the band ard has attended their meetings
/ because afraid to refuse to do 1t is believed
by good citizens Of the county that the arrest of
! these mon aud their trial will break up the or.
| ganizaton, and every effort will be made to that
| end.